Dress shield or protector



(Numdam.)

B. SGARLES. DRESS SHIELD OR PROTECTOR.

Patented May-31, 1892.

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BENJAMIN SOARLES, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRESS SHIELD OR PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,803, dated May 31, 1892.

Application tiled September 5, 1891. Serial No. 404.830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN ScARLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olinton, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Dress Shields or Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a device by which the inside of Womens skirts and dresses may be prevented from coming into Contact with the rear part of the boots and may thus be protected from wear and dirt, mud, or slush.

To this end the invention consists of the device described and claimed inthis specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure lis aview of a womans dress, showing the position of the feet in walkingI Fig. 2 is a view of the rear foot, showing my device applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a plan of my device removed from the boot or shoe. Fig. 4E is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 5 repre` sents a slight modification.

In the act of Walking the body is moved forwardat the same time that the rear foot is being raised from the ground, the heel during this action desoribinga radius about the point of the toe. The skirts being hung at the waist, swing forward during this movement, the skirts forming a pendulum, and of course if the pivot is moved the pendulum must follow. Thus the dress or skirts at every step will come into contact with the rear edge of the heel of a boot as the same is lifted from the ground, and the heel will rub up and down on the skirts at eachstep for a considerable distance. Thus whatever dirt or mud has been carried up by the heels will come into contact with the dress or skirts, and as the heels are of such a nature as to absorb moisture the dress or skirts will act as a veritable wiping arrangement, which at every step wipes ott the mud or dirt from the heel, and thus the dress or skirts are soon soiled with a heavy deposit. Further, as the rear of the heel is worn to a very sharp rough edge the friction of the same will rapidly wear on the inside of the skirts. To remedy this evil,

methods have been devised for hanging the skirts so far back as to clear the heels; but all these methods, so far as I am informed, have proved cumbersome and unsightly. Also, dress-Suspenders have been tried; but the same have proved ineffectual unless the dress was worn high enough to clear the heel of the boot when raised to its highest position, thus avoiding the very object for which the Suspenders were worn.

To remedythe evil above noted in a simple and effectual manner, I provide a shield or protector of such a form as i not to absorb moisture, and which can be applied to boots and shoes in such a manner as will prevent the dress or skirts from coming into contact with the heel of the boot during all positions taken during the act of walking.

Referring now to the drawings, I will describe the specific device which l have invented.

The same consists of three wires bent so as to form a horseshoe-shaped article, the arms of which may be sprung to tightly t the sides of the heel of the boot B, as shown. These three wires c., b, and c are fastened together at their ends by the piece d, which has the tongues d', which are bent over to clasp and hold the wires, as shown. The wires are also preferably soldered to the piece d to make an absolutely safe joint. The piece d is extended to form an eye o, for a purpose hereinafter noted. These pieces can be easily made in large quantities by stamping. A modification of this construction is shown in Fig. 5. In this arrangement the wires are soldered together at their ends, as shown, and the middle wire b is extended at each end and bent around to form eyes p. The three Wires a, b, and c are held together and in proper position by the triangular piecef, through which the wires pass and to which they may be soldered. This piece f is extended in, as at g, to form two little sharp points which will bite into the rear of the heel and hold the device iirmlyin place. An elastic cord h is tied between the two eyes o.

My device is applied to the boot by springing the same onto the 'sides ot the heel and catching the points g in the rear of the heel and then passing the elastic around the front of the heel, as shown in Fig. 2.

I contemplate omitting the elastic in some instances, and depending upon the spring of the arms to hold the device in place.

ICC

The shields may, if desired, be worn all the time t0 protect the dress from the friction of the ragged edges of the heel with small particles of stone embedded therein, which forms a very sharp rough edge, and which ordinarily Will rapidly wear the dress.

My device can be just as well used by men to protect the edge of the pants. be seen that no moisture will be carried by my device to the skirts, as the device is skeleton in form and will not absorb or retainI moisture, and should any splash on the shield the saine would immediately drain down or run off to that part of the shield farthest.

from the point ol' contact with the dress as the foot is being raised and before the dress The moisture splashed on the shield will thus return to the ground, when the heel is again placed for the next step, and thus will not be l comes into contact with lthe. shield.

deposited on the dress.

I do not limit myself to a device made of wire, as the same can be made from any suiti able material, as sheet-metal, rubber, vulcanite, Celluloid, dac. Neither do I limit myself to the exact shape shown or to the method of attaching the same to the shoe; but I prefer the one shown and described as the most; practicable and from which I have obtained the best results.

Modications of the device herein shown1 and described may be inade by a skilled me- It will also v chanic Without departing from the scope of what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

lfA dress-protector comprising a series of Wires substantially horseshoe in shape, lying in diiferent horizontal planes, secured together at their ends, and supported by a suitable brace or stay, the whole adapted to be attached to the heel of a shoe, substantially as described.

2. A dress-protector consisting of wires bent in the shape of a horseshoe, adapted to clasp the heel of a boot or shoe, and the piecef, to which the Wires are fastened, said piece f being adapted to rest against the rear of the heel and to hold the Wires apart, substantially as described.

3. A dress-protector coiisistingof thewi-res bent in the shape of a horseshoe, adapted to clasp the heel of a boot or shoe, and the piece f, to which the wires are fastened, said piece f having spur-points g and' being adapted to rest against the rear of the heel and toA hold the wires apart, substantially as described.

4. A dress-protector consisting of the Wires bent as described, said wires being fastened at their ends, an eye also fastened or formed at the ends of said wires, and an elastic cord h, held by said eyes, the whole adapted to be fastened to the heel of a boot or sli-oe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BENJAMIN SCARLES.

Witnesses:

LoUIs W. SOUTHGATE, JAMES J RAFFERTY. 

